Source of basement flooding perplexes homeowners, town
ANDOVER — The hum of a basement sump pump is now a familiar noise to Brian Regan.
The resident of 2 Snowberry Road had never heard the pump operate until his basement began drawing water two weeks ago. Now the water won't stop flowing in and has affected nine homes in his neighborhood.
"It's coming in so fast you'd think it was a water main (break)," said Regan. "It's not normal."
Town officials have reported no water main breaks or sewer problems in the area despite numerous basements being inundated with water.
The neighborhood is next to Fosters Pond in the south of town.
Town engineers are working to determine the source of the water after residents of Snowberry Road, Clover Circle and Morningside Drive reported the problem to selectmen this week.
Public Works Director Jack Petkus said the water is due to a high ground water table, a result of the wettest summer on record. But some residents aren't buying it and want more answers from the town.
"The streams are dry where it normally is wet when we have a high water table," 3 Snowberry Road resident Mary Flaherty told Petkus at a meeting with selectmen. "I don't agree with what you've come up with. We're seeing a change. We don't buy that this is a water table issue."
The neighborhood is built on top of ledge.
Some residents fear that blasting during the town's recently-completed sewer expansion project may have rerouted the water toward their homes.
Health Director Tom Carbone is expecting a second round of test results today after initially finding high bacteria levels on Snowberry Road Aug. 25. The bacteria may be from a nearby septic system.
Petkus said all fluoride tests to identify the presence of town drinking water have come back negative.
"We're not seeing any kind of readings that would indicate our pipes," said Petkus. "We're also very sure it's not sewer related."
